Alleging a multi-crore rip-off within the buy of 1,000 buses by the Delhi Transport Corporation, the Delhi BJP has demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
BJP Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta, who had approached the LG to arrange an inquiry committee, alleged irregularities within the phrases of the acquisition and upkeep contracts. He mentioned that in January 2021, the Delhi authorities had positioned a piece order for 1,000 low ground buses costing Rs 890 crore. He mentioned that together with the acquisition order, a young of Rs 350 crore per yr was additionally floated for the annual upkeep of the buses. It was additionally handed over to the identical bus suppliers.
Gupta advised a press convention that the Anti-Corruption Wing of the state authorities was not giving permission to research the matter. In such a state of affairs, the difficulty needs to be taken to the National Corruption Wing and actually, probe needs to be finished by the CBI, he mentioned.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramveer Bidhuri mentioned Delhi wants 15,000 buses, however claimed that the Arvind Kejriwal authorities had hardly purchased any buses within the final seven years.
He additionally claimed that many of the buses can be off the roads by September as they’d have accomplished their time interval: “On one hand there will probably be a extreme scarcity of buses, whereas in mild of the rip-off in new bus purchases, the federal government itself will cease the acquisition. course of. “
Incidentally, in October final yr, going through a dwindling fleet, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) had mentioned it will prolong the highway lifetime of 1,000 buses – which might full 12 years in service by July 2021 – by one other for 3 years.
Meanwhile, Gupta mentioned the social gathering has been elevating the difficulty since final yr: “We had raised it in the state assembly and recently urged the LG to investigate the matter.”
He mentioned that whereas on June 16 the LG mentioned {that a} committee can be shaped to look into it, the Delhi authorities had determined to cease the acquisition of buses on June 11: “So it’s clear that the federal government has dedicated an enormous rip-off. This choice has been taken out of concern. In this and now they’re taking refuge underneath the Lt Governor’s choice to arrange a panel.”
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot had mentioned on Wednesday that the acquisition order can be placed on maintain until the inquiry committee submits its report. “BJP has complained to the LG, who has constituted an inquiry on his complaint. We have stopped the process of buying buses till the report of the inquiry committee comes. BJP should investigate this. We are ready for this. The truth will come out in front of everyone. BJP leaders have already checked 400 files. They got nothing,” he mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
